Editorial: Travel Pros Need To Ensure Security
Waiting for government, airlines and airports to improve security measures to prevent future use of commercial airliners as weapons and travelers as targets is not enough. Corporate travel buyers and suppliers must ensure strict measures are taken to prevent further terrorism.
Business travelers and corporate buyers must face the fact that travel will take longer, and that they will have to help pay for security improvements and the delays. With companies ultimately picking up much of the tab, they have the right, as well as the responsibility, to be part of the solution.
Looming large is the longer term question of how these terrible events will affect travel demand and, ultimately, the overall economy. Corporate travel buying decisions made today may measure the nation's resolve. As the bedrock of the business world, the level of confidence in air travel will come to symbolize the economic outcome of this month's devastating acts.
Never mind commission cuts, the Internet, airline deregulation or the globalization of business. Nothing more sudden or tragic ever had more bearing on the corporate travel industry than the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.
In the assault on American civilians and military personnel, as well as the largest U.S. air carriers, the largest U.S. businesses and ordinary business travelers—air travel as a mechanism for business temporarily was destroyed and forever impaired.
The first priority for corporate travel managers and agencies was to help employees get home, despite the unprecedented grounding of the commercial air fleet and the downing of communication lines. Now the industry needs to be proactive in supporting improved safety measures during ticketing, at the airport and in the aircraft.
Clearly, traveling through airports for business will become more restrictive and less efficient, and will take a lot more time. Curbside checkin already has been eliminated. Depending largely on how corporations react to these events, including whether they restrict travel more than they already have during the past year, losing this time may mean a considerable amount of money. Unquestionably, there will be more cost involved in upgrading security people and equipment.
Business travel suppliers and buyers should look closely at the action U.S. Transportation secretary Norman Mineta intends to take next week once aviation industry and federal agency officials recommend new safety measures. Then buyers and suppliers should provide input as to how they can be improved and properly enforced. The insight industry professionals who are familiar with conditions on the ground can provide would be beneficial in helping this nation batten down its hatches. Recognizing that measures might not be implemented quickly or enforced properly on an ongoing basis, the industry should help ensure that security throughout America is as effective as possible and that travelers have the information they need to face the new business travel reality.
So far, industry participants have been understanding and patient with their partners, and helpful in adversity.
It is encouraging that federal authorities have moved quickly to implement temporary measures and to identify more complete safety practices. Also important is the government's intention to aid the financially crippled airline industry, even as other travel-related businesses call for assistance.
Without financial assistance, however, bigger carriers surely will follow Raleigh-based Midway Airlines out of business. Major U.S. airlines laid off 65,000 workers in the past week.
Some industry organizations have begun to come forward to address the situation. The National Business Travel Association's Institute of Business Travel Management has engaged risk consulting company Kroll Associates to develop language for corporate policies that spells out crisis operating procedures for travelers.
Meanwhile, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and the Business Travel Coalition joined together in writing to Ernest Hollings (D-Tenn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Their letter called for a cash infusion and low-cost loans for the airlines, holding the airlines harmless on liability from the results of the terrorist acts, and rescinding airline fuel and ticket taxes.
That is a start, but our industry needs to offer more ideas and communication to further improve safety and security so that large numbers of business travelers can take to the skies again. Adopting measures similar to those El Al and Israel employ to make thorough security checks and bar entry to the cockpit seem to be the least that we can do.
It was never more true that the price of democracy is eternal vigilance. Let us resolve as an industry to contribute our collective expertise and attention to ensuring that this month's atrocities are never repeated.
Beyond the loss of life, the cost of the actual devastation caused by the attacks is staggering, but it pales in comparison to the damage it could do if we give in to fear and let terrorists bring business travel to a halt. The impact on our economy and the world could be deep and wide. We don't have to be heroes, just professionals who refuse to fold.